Herzstark



C- HERZSTARK Oct. 10, 1950 CALCULATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed.Jan. 9, 1948 C. HERZSTARK CALCULATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Jan. 9, 1948 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 2,525,352 OFFICE CALCULATINGMACHINE Curt Herzstark, Mauren, Liechtenstein Application January 9,1948, Serial No. 1,456 In Austria March '7, 1946 Section 1, Public Law690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 7, 1966 The invention relatesto a miniature calculating machine for all four types of calculations,such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, in which thefigure drums and the associated transmission members of the resultcounting mechanism and of the revolution count-- ing mechanism arearranged in a circle around a common driving member (for example anechelon drum).

It is an object of theinvention to house the members of the resultandrevolution counting mechanisms in the machine space available in theminiature size (pocket size) of the present circular calculating machinein a manner to obtain completely separate figure patterns for bothcounting mechanisms with the use of structural components as simple aspossible which are moreover space saving and permit an easy assemblingof the calculating mechanism gears arranged on them.

In order to attain these objects, the figure drums and associatedcounting mechanism members of the result counting mechanism and of therevolution counting mechanism are'arranged, according to the invention,on the same circle, which should be as small as structurally possible,in two groups entirely separated from one another by an angularinterval, and moreover offset in angular pitch, so that the two countingmechanisms yield figure patterns separated from one another, and themembers of each counting mechanism group bridge the transmission membersof the other group without engaging them as soon as they get into thezone of non-pertinent transmission members when performing a decadetransfer of the total counting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings a form of embodiment of the calculatingmachine according to the invention is shown on an enlarged scale by wayof example, the figures showing only those components which are requiredfor the understanding of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through a miniature size calculatingmachine, part of which only is represented, with the counting mechanismsengaged, whereas Fig. 2 shows the same with the counting mechanismsdisengaged.

Figs. 3 and 4 show diagrammatic plan views of the resultand revolutioncounting mechanisms in their normal position, and in a position movedout of the normal position by several decades, respectively.

Fig. 5 shows a still more enlarged vertical section through the countingmechanism of a somewhat modified, embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows the body of a counting mechanism according to Fig. 5 inplan view, and

Fig. '7 is a part view of the counting mechanism as seen from outside.

5 Claims. (01. 235-43) Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 diagrammatically representsome details of the minimum size calculating machine, relevant to theinvention.

vOn a vertical shaft 2 journalled in the machine body I a drivingelement is arranged which consists of an echelon drum W having twogroups of teeth Z1, Z2 0!] its circumference, off-set with respect toone another (Fig. 11), of which the group Z1 acts on the transmissionmembers 3 of the result counting mechanism R, and the group Z2 on thetransmission members 4 of the revolution counting mechanism U. Bothcounting mechanisms R and U are equipped with an ordinary number ofplaces and a through-going decade transfer.

The revolution counting mechanism U as shown in Figs. 3 and. 4, isarranged in the body 5 of the counting mechanism on the sector. leftfree by the result counting mechanism R and on the same circle as thelatter. The body 5 of the counting mechanism restswith a bush 5' on acentral sleeve shaped projection 6 of the machine body I so as to becapable both of being rotated and being shifted axially. It can belifted against the bias of the compression spring I so far that thetransmission pinions 8 for the figure drums 9 of the result countingmechanism and the transmission pinions 8' for the figure drums 9' of therevolution counting mechanism move out of engagement with thetransmission pinions II], II of the adjustment members 3, 4. As will beseen from Figs. 1 and 2, the spring I bears with its one end against aflange 5 of the bush 5', and with its other end against a ring 21 heldon the sleeve 6 by a circular spring 26.

On the shaft 2 there is moreover the operating crank 29 secured forrotation by a pin 28. By turning said crank, the shaft 2 and the echelondrum W connected therewith for rotation are set in rotary motion. In theelevated position of the body 5 of the counting mechanism as shown inFig. 2 of the drawings, the total counting mechanism can undergo adecade transfer. The arresting of the body 5 of the counting mechanismafter each decade transfer is effected for example by a pin I2 insertedinto the machine body I and engaging a recess I3 of a ratchet ring 30attached to the body 5 of the counting mechanism (Figs. 1, 2 and 10).The ratchet ring 3!] has recesses I3 which serve for the housing of theaxles I4 of the figure drums 9, 9 and of the transmission pinions 8, 8of the result counting mechanism and of the revolution countingmechanism, respectively, and still leave a space free sufiicient for thepin I2 to be capable to engage the recess for the purpose of arrestingthe body 5 of the counting mechanism. The radially projecting axles I 4may be screwed to the ratchet ring 30 by means of screws 3I as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, or alternatively cast into the body of the countingmechanism when the latter is made by injection moulding (Fig. 5).

The figure drums 9, 9' and the transmission pinions 8, 8' integral withthem are pushed over the axles M from outside, and are loosely rotatableon them.

The body 5 of the counting mechanism shows, in the embodiment accordingto Figs. 5, 6, a flange l5 projecting from the centre portion whichflange terminates in an edge It directed upwards at a right angle. Inthe flange there is provided a hole I? over each axle It designed forhousing a ball l8. The ball i8 is pressed into the interstices betweenthe teeth of the transmission pinions 8, 8 respectively, under theaction of leaf springs 19. Thereby the figure drums 9, S are alwaysretained in a correct position when at rest. For the sake of simplicity,the springs l8 are combined into a spring spider punched out in onepiece. The body 5 of the counting mechanism is covered by a cup shapedring made for example of sheet metal which is provided with displayopenings 2| for the figure drums 9, 9'. open towards the middle of themachine, and are covered in this region by the effacer 22 (not to bedescribed in detail). The cover ring 20 is equipped at its upturned edgewith an external thread and with recesses 23. With these recesses 23 thecover ring 26 embraces the free ends of the axles it, and with the basesof these recesses 23 it rests on the ends of these axles.

The cover ring is screwed into a sleeve 24 having an internal thread 25which sleeve serves as a grip for lifting the counting mechanism out ofengagement when performing a decade trans- 1" er. When screwing thecover ring 28 and the sleeve 24 together, the former is centered by therecesses 23 according to the position of the axles l4 so that the axlesM of the figure drums and the centre lines of the display openings 2!are in accurate juxtaposition. Moreover, the cover ring 28 and the axles[4 form together a mutually stiffened structure when tightening thesleeve 24. A further advantage of this device can be seen therein that,after unscrewing the components 26, 25, the figure drums 9, with thetransmission pinions 8, 8 can be easily removed sideways from themachine, and can be as easily refitted into the latter.

Because of the relatively very small diameter of the machine, very smallintervals only remain between the result counting mechanism and therevolution counting mechanism, and moreover the angular distancesbetween the members of the counting mechanisms have to be dimensionedvery small. The transmission pinions 8 of the result counting mechanismR and the pinions ii of the revolution counting mechanism U are arrangedwith their axes of rotation in the same plane which is positioned atright angles to the axis of rotation of the driving element. In similarmanner the gears [9 which in the operation of the calculating machineare adapted to engage the pinions of the result counting mechanism andthe gears i which are adapted to engage the pinions 8' of the revolutioncounting mechanism are arranged in a plane which is positioned at rightangles to the axis of rotation of said driving member. Owing to thisconstruction and arrangement of the transmission pinions and theassociated gears it is possible to make the entire height of the totalcounting mechanism very low which is of advantage and reduces the sizeof the calculating The display openings 2i are I machine to the desiredminiature size. Upon a decade transfer it is necessary to shift theentire counting mechanism around the axis of rotation of the drivingmember and in order to accomplish this the sleeve 24 which is attachedto the circumference of the rotatable body 5 which carries the membersof the two counting mechanisms is axially moved against the action ofthe spring 1 so as to lift the pinions 8 and 8 out of engagement withtheir associated gears It and H respectively, and when this has beendone the sleeve 24 and therewith the entire counting mechanism isrotated. The Figs. 3 and 8 illustrate the counting mechanism and theirinitial or normal position in which all of the pinions 8 mesh with allof their associated gears la while on the other hand, all of the pinions8' are in mesh with their associated gears H. When now, as justmentioned previously the counting mechanism is rotatably shifted some ofthe pinions 8 move into the range of the gears II and some of thepinions 8 move into the range of the gears H]. In order to prevent thatany one of the pinions 8 engage any one of the gears H and in order toprevent also an engagement of any one of the pinions 8' with thenon-associated gears [0 the present invention provides that the twocounting mechanism R and U are separated from each other a largerangular distance as is provided between two adjacent figure drums 9 orbetween two adjacent figure drums 9. The angular distance between thefigure drums of each of the two mentioned counting mechanism is the sameand in the Fig. 3 this distance has been designated with t. Preferablythe angular distance between the two counting mechanism R and U is nowmade 1 of the angular distance between two adjacent figure drums in eachgroup of said counting mechanism. Since now the angular distance betweentwo adjacent figure drums in each group has been designated with t thenit follows that the angular distance between the figure drum 9 at theend of the group of the result counting mechanism R and the figure drum9 of the next following revolution counting mechanism U is equal to1.525. The same angular distance is also provided between the other twoends of the counting mechanism R and U. These two larger angulardistances which are equal to 1.523 separate clearly the two groups ofthe gears l0 and I I of which the gears Hi belong to the result countingmechanism while the other gears l I belong to the revolution countingmechanism. Owing to this angular displacement of the two countingmechanism R and U and owing to the similar arrangement of the two groupsof gears l0 and H the result is obtainec that during the annularshift'ng of the counting mechanism the pinions 8 of the result countingmechanism R will be positioned between two gears ll of the revolutioncounting mechanism. Correspondingly, some of the pinions 8' of therevolution counting mechanism U will be positioned between two gears IUof the result counting mechanism R. These intermediately posltionedpinions 8 and 8 will, therefore, remain out of engagement with the gearsH and It respectively as is clearly illustrated in the Figs. 4 and 9.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a calculating machine, a machine body having a driving elementmounted therein for rotation about a central axis, a plurality ofparallel transmission shafts mounted in a circle about said drivingelement and rotatably supported in said body to extend parallel to theaxis of rotation of said driving element, gears mounted at one end ofsaid transmission shafts and all arranged in a single plane at rightangles to said central axis, said transmission shafts being arranged intwo separate groups and along the same circular line, the angulardistances between the parallel shafts in each group being uniform andthe angular distances between the end shaft of one group and the nextadjacent end shaft of the other group being one and a half times theangular distance between the shafts in each group, one of said groupsforming the transmission shafts of a revolution counting mechanism andthe other group forming the transmission shafts for a result countingmechanism, a rotatable body mounted for rotation and axial displacementon said driving element, said rotatable body having fixedly attachedthereto a plurality of rad ally extending axles equal in number to thetotal number of said transmission shafts and spaced angularly from eachother the same angular distances said transmission shafts are spacedfrom each other so that in one initial position of said rad al axlesthey are arranged in juxtaposition with the ends of said transmissionshafts having said gears thereon, all of said radial axles beingarranged in a single plane at right angles to said central axis, onegroup of said radial axles having rotatably mounted thereon integrallyformed figure drums and pinions which constitute said previouslymentioned revolution counting mechanism, and another group of saidradial axles having rotatably mounted thereon integrally formed figuredrums and pinions which constitute said previously mentioned resultcounting mechanism, spring means for normally urging said rotatable andslidable body in an axial direction in which said pinions engagerespective gears on said transmission shafts when said separate groupsof shafts and radial axles are in juxtaposition, and manually operablemeans for axially displacing said rotatable body with the countingmechanisms thereon in direction in which said pinions disengage saidgears and for rotating said rotatable body to perform a decade transfer,whereby upon release of said manually operable means said rotatable bodyis shifted by said spring means in the opposite direction and anypinions of the revolution and result counting mechanisms which have beenmoved angularly into the region occupied by the other group of gears, towit into the region of the gears belonging to the result and revolutioncounting mechanisms respectively, will be positioned so as to remain outof engagement with said gears.

2. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 1, in which saidrotatable body is provided with recesses, the said axles being housedwith their inner ends in said recesses, and clutch means on saidstationary body adapted to engage the recesses of said rotatable body inthe engaged position of the same and to clear said recesses in theextended, disengaged position thereof.

3. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 1, in which saidrotatable body is provided with recesses, the said axles being housedwith their inner ends in said recesses, and clutch means on saidstationary body adapted to engage the recesses of said rotatable body inthe engaged position of the same and to clear said recesses in theextended, disengaged position thereof, said body being also providedwith a series of holes. one above each said axles, and a' ball housed ineach of said holes of said rotatable body, spring means adapted to biasthe said balls through the said holes into engagement with thepinionsassociated with said figure drums so as to serve as the detents thereofin their rest positions.

4. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 3 a spring spiderarranged concentrically with the said perforated counting mechanismbody, the arms of the said spider forming spring means adapted to biasthe said balls into their associated perforations.

5. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 1 a flanged cover ringrecessed at its cylindrical flange portion and adapted to engagethe freeends of the said radial axles with the said recesses, display openingsin the flat portion of said cover ring adapted to display theinstantaneously significant figures of the said figure drums, anexternal screw thread on the cylindrical flange portion of said coverring, and an internally threaded sleeve adapted to serve as a grip forthe relative axial and angular operation of the said counting mechanismbody and stationary member, and to clamp the free ends of the saidradial axles against the bottom of the recesses on the said cover ringwhen screwed on the said cover ring, the said sleeve and cover ringbeing adapted to clear, when unscrewed, the said figure drums andassociated pinions and to allow their radial dismantling from, andradial fitting to, the said axles. CURT HERZSTARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Hus---" June 7, 1909

